Department of General Practice – Family Medicine

History

The Department of Civil Defense and Nursing Training was established in 1961.

From 1961 to 1975, the Department was headed by Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General V. I. Zaitsev.

For 27 years, from December 1975, the Department was headed by Colonel of the Medical Service, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor, and surgeon of the highest qualification category I. P. Bulaienko (1920–2002). Until 1992, nursing education lasted three years; from 1993 it was reduced to two years. Upon completion of the program, students passed a state examination and received a nursing certificate. From 1995 to 2001, the Department taught the course Life Safety.

From 2002 to 2009, the Department was headed by Professor Viktor Mykolaiovych Savchenko, Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Computer Sciences and Systems and, since 2007, Dean of the School of Medicine. His scientific interests focused on pharmacology of agents affecting the hepatobiliary system, as well as antiallergic and hypoglycemic drugs. His main scientific works were devoted to studying the effects of medications on impaired functions of internal organs. The obtained results formed the basis for the development of new medicines for the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, allergic conditions, and diabetes mellitus.

In 2003, the Department was renamed the Department of Civil Defense, Disaster Medicine, and Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge. The course Civil Defense was taught to students for 54 hours in the 9th semester; Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge was delivered for 140 classroom hours to third-year students; Disaster Medicine was taught to international medical students for 40 classroom hours.

Since 2009, the Department has been headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Ye. Ya. Nikolenko.

According to the decision of the Academic Council of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University dated December 29, 2009, the Department was reorganized into the Department of General Practice – Family Medicine, with responsibility for teaching the disciplines Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge and Civil Defense.

In accordance with the Concept of Healthcare Development in Ukraine, approved by the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 1313/2000, which defines family medicine as a priority in providing medical care to the population, and pursuant to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 989 of June 20, 2000 “On Comprehensive Measures for the Implementation of Family Medicine in the Healthcare System”, the Department’s activities are aimed at implementing these priorities within undergraduate medical education in accordance with the curriculum of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (Order No. 414 of July 23, 2007).

Academic Staff

The Department employs 1 Doctor of Medical Sciences, 9 Candidates of Sciences, 2 Professors, and 8 Associate Professors.

Research Activities

In collaboration with the Department of Physical and Biomedical Electronics and Integrated Information Technologies, the research project “A Complex of Devices for Recording Medical and Biological Indicators” is being conducted. Research focuses on assessing population and individual health status of students, identifying early pathological changes, and developing approaches for their correction.

A comprehensive methodology for clinical and population-based research has been developed and implemented, including assessment of population and individual health, risk group classification, identification of high-risk populations, detection and modification of pathological changes, implementation of health-improvement measures among high-risk individuals, correction of risk factors, prevention and treatment of detected diseases, and promotion of mass motivation for a healthy lifestyle.

At the Department, a doctoral dissertation is being prepared by Associate Professor O. H. Zakharov entitled “Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Occupational Pathology in the Eastern Region”, as well as a PhD dissertation entitled “The Nature of Immunological Changes and Their Significance for Early Diagnosis and Prognosis of the Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases”. A student scientific club operates at the Department, whose members actively participate in scientific and practical conferences.

Teaching Activities

Based on curricula developed in accordance with the Bologna Process, the Department provides instruction in the disciplines Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge and Civil Defense.

Lectures and practical classes are delivered in the following courses:

Disaster Medicine
Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge
Civil Defense
Rehabilitation and Aesthetic Massage
Therapeutic Physical Training
Aesthetic Cosmetology
Patronage Care (Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge)